Debate on demonetisation cannot be done for ego satisfaction of Rahul Gandhi: BJP

November 28, 2018 19:12

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Wednesday said that the government cannot hold a debate in Parliament on demonetisation just to satisfy ego of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Prasad hailed the central government for measures like demonetisation and GST and said 1.5 lakh people deposited Rs 5 lakh crore after demonetisation.

"Debate on demonetisation cannot be organised for ego satisfaction of Rahul Gandhi. It would be better if the discussion is based on information. They made it an issue in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh elections and had to face defeat," he told reporters at a press conference in Jaipur.

Prasad said the number of tax payers doubled in the last four years. Only 3.82 crore people used to file tax in 2013-14 compared to 6.86 crore in 2017-18.

Tax collection, which was Rs 6.38 lakh crore in 2013-14, shot up to Rs 10.20 lakh crore in 2017-18. Nearly 1.10 crore traders, including 49 lakh new traders started filing tax after the Goods and Services Tax was implemented, he said.

The Union law and justice minister cornered the Congress over a range of issues, including its stand on triple talaq and "caste-based politics".

He said the Congress's desperation was quite evident as the parliamentary elections are approaching and this is why the party was asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's caste.

"Does the Congress no more trust the issue of development?" Prasad said. -- PTI